By Ayodele Oni
The first face-to-face meeting between President Bola Tinubu and relected Osun state governor, Ademola Adeleke after last Saturday’s election, and, indeed, in many months, took place on Thursday at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja.
Adeleke secured re-election in the State’s Governorship Election on the platform of the Accord Party, defeating the All Progressives Congress candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, after winning 19 of the state’s 30 local government areas. Oyebamiji secured victory in 11 local government areas.
Adeleke arrived at the forecourt of the Aso Rock Villa at exactly 5:25pm, dressed in a navy blue traditional attire. He was accompanied by the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
Adeleke was later joined at the Villa by several officials from Osun State, including the Director-General of his Campaign Council, Senator Lere Oyewumi; a member of the council, Sunday Bisi; the governor’s Chief of Staff, Akinleye Kazeem; and Bamidele Salam, representing Ede North/Ede South/Egbedore/Ejigbo Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.
The meeting comes days after Tinubu personally congratulated Adeleke on his victory in the August 15 poll, describing the outcome as an indication that democracy would continue to thrive in Nigeria.
President Tinubu had also urged the governor to use his renewed mandate to unite the people of Osun State, irrespective of their political affiliations.
The visit is coming against the backdrop of Adeleke’s recent comments on his relationship with Tinubu and his decision to support the President despite belonging to a different political platform.
Following his victory, Adeleke declared support for Tinubu in the forthcoming presidential election.
He, however, clarified that his support was not based on any political agreement between him and the Federal Government.
Speaking during an interview on Channels TV, the governor dismissed speculation that he had reached a deal with the President, saying his support was influenced partly by Tinubu’s Yoruba identity and the projects being undertaken by his administration.
“No, I did not reach an agreement with Mr President,” Adeleke said.
He explained that he believed Tinubu should be given an opportunity to implement his development agenda, particularly in areas affecting Osun State.
“My support is just based on Mr President being a Yoruba man and his projects. And I believe that all the federal roads that he has started, I want to encourage him not to forget Osun too,” he said.
The governor also appealed to the President to extend federal infrastructure projects to Osun, particularly the rehabilitation and construction of federal roads linking the state to other parts of the country.
“I feel like, since a Yoruba man has won for the first time, maybe I will give him another chance to develop his reforms,” Adeleke added.
Adeleke further signalled his willingness to cooperate with individuals and political actors aligned with Tinubu in Osun State, provided their activities were geared towards supporting the President.
“As long as they say, ‘I’m doing it for Mr President,’ I don’t mind. I will work with them,” he said.
The governor, however, ruled out any immediate plan to return to the APC, despite his stated support for Tinubu.
“As I’m talking to you right now, I’m not even thinking about that. It’s not on my agenda,” Adeleke said.
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